Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Modification
The advantages and disadvantages of genetic modification are summarized in the
following table:
Advantages Disadvantages
Crops 1) Deficiency of certain nutrients, 1) Only the farmers and
such as iron, can be covered. chemical companies are
[Method: A gene for an enzyme benefitted.
is transferred to plants, enabling 2) Yields are improved to a
them to extract more iron from small extent.
the soil] 3) The modified genes of crops
2) Overcome the yield issue due may get into wild plants. For
to acid soil. example, if a herbicide
[Method: A gene produces citrate resistant gene leaks into a
which binds the Aluminium in soil weed, the weed would become
and releases phosphate ions.] resistant to that herbicide,
3) Salt tolerance can be resulting in the formation of
achieved enhancing yield. super weed.
[Method: A gene for salt
tolerance is transferred.]
4) Yield can be increased without
the need of fertilizers.
[Method: Genes for nitrogen
fixation is transferred into the
plants.]
5) Genes coding for human
vaccines has been introduced in
plants.
6) Only required genes can
be transferred.
7) Modifying gene to stop
producing pollen will overcome
the issue of modified gene
getting into wild plants.
The advantages and disadvantages of genetic modification are summarized in the
following table:
Advantages Disadvantages
Crops 1) Deficiency of certain nutrients, 1) Only the farmers and
such as iron, can be covered. chemical companies are
[Method: A gene for an enzyme benefitted.
is transferred to plants, enabling 2) Yields are improved to a
them to extract more iron from small extent.
the soil] 3) The modified genes of crops
2) Overcome the yield issue due may get into wild plants. For
to acid soil. example, if a herbicide
[Method: A gene produces citrate resistant gene leaks into a
which binds the Aluminium in soil weed, the weed would become
and releases phosphate ions.] resistant to that herbicide,
3) Salt tolerance can be resulting in the formation of
achieved enhancing yield. super weed.
[Method: A gene for salt
tolerance is transferred.]
4) Yield can be increased without
the need of fertilizers.
[Method: Genes for nitrogen
fixation is transferred into the
plants.]
5) Genes coding for human
vaccines has been introduced in
plants.
6) Only required genes can
be transferred.
7) Modifying gene to stop
producing pollen will overcome
the issue of modified gene
getting into wild plants.
